J. J. Bell

“ It was then that Joan, the servants having retired, excused herself and went, wondering and not a little anxious, to the front door. The interview which followed in the drawing-room was painful but brief. Joan spared the woman all she could, telling her the trouble was already known to her, and how Miss Gosling had gone with a message of comfort.
“There is only one condition,” said Joan, gently but by no means weakly. “The money must be settled on you; Mr. Lismore simply must submit to being dependent on you; and you must learn to manage the money yourself. ”

“ I pointed out that he was young, with the world before him, while my husband was getting old and the disgrace would kill him. Douglas offered me everything except his honor. I implored, I wept—in vain. And at last, Joan, I, who might have been his mother, went down on my knees before him..... He gave in!”
“Oh!” cried the girl. She got up. She-was afraid of being brutal to the woman who had already suffered so much.
Mrs. Lismore rose also. ”

“ I hope I may catch her at Elm House. But I leave you a message from myself for your father, in case he awakens before her return. It is this: for his wife's sake, he shall have mercy. That is all I have to say. ”